Field Trip: Rum Bar by Bacardi
Rum Bar by Bacardi
No, you don’t have to go to Puerto Rico to have a very Bacardi experience, in fact, you don’t have to leave the mainland at all. It’s late afternoon on a weekday in the “happiest place on Earth” and I’m ready to get down to business. But I’m not standing in line for a roller coaster. Nor am I about to enjoy a Dole Whip®.
Instead, I’m tasting rums at an Orlando resort.
Part of Caribe Royale Orlando’s $140 million renovation updated its bar area above the lobby, working with Bacardi to build out a rum bar (Rum Bar by Bacardi) exclusive to this resort. It opened during the summer of 2022 and is sponsored by Bacardi. Décor is inspired by Havana, Cuba, such as domino sets (a favorite game in Cuba), bold tropical-motif wallpaper and cane-back bar chairs. In lieu of the rum producer’s logo appearing front and center everywhere one looks, it’s only at the top of a wall-size mural depicting black-and-white images of Cuba, as a nod to Bacardi’s 1862 founding in Cuba.
About Rum Bar by Bacardi
Bacardi Bar rum flight
“While Bacardi is a powerhouse brand in the world of rum, we wanted to showcase the depth of flavors and countries that produce rum,” explains Chris Andaur, Assistant Director of F&B at Caribe Royale Orlando. “Rum has truly become an international spirit, with countries such as India and Italy producing very high-quality rums that we feature to provide our guests a plethora of options.”
The rum tasting I’ve set out to do covers more than Bacardi rums. As Austin Corbitt—the resort’s rum-bar manager—walks me through a curated selection of four tastes on a recycled oak-barrel board, the vibe is relaxed while also packed with information, including flavor profiles (like the notes of spicy bread pudding in the Bacardi rum we sipped together), suggested cocktails incorporating that rum (like the Père Labat in a daiquiri), and the distilleries’ histories. It’s more like a conversation than a guided tasting, as Corbitt’s passion demonstrates.
Rum Bar by Bacardi rum flight
The four rums I tasted: Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva (Dominican Republic), Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez (Puerto Rico), Père Labat 59° (Guadeloupe) and Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad). That last one, says Corbitt, “is the most prestigious rum we carry” and was added to the menu earlier this year, created by a female master blender.
“We’ve created rum-tasting flights that are designed to guide guests through the different styles of rum found throughout the Caribbean,” says Andaur. “Each flight experience comes with a bit of education as guests begin to taste the differences across regions and styles of rum. Guests can even choose their own educational adventure by building their own flight combination.” Currently there are English, French and Spanish rum flights in addition to the build your own option.
Fire Punch cocktail with Bacardi Silver Rum
In addition to the rum tasting ($35-$55 per person for a flight and bookable upon request, with four options: build-your-own, English, Spanish or French), rum cocktails are on the bar’s menu. Many of these cocktails fold in Bacardi rums. This includes Sunny Isles (Bacardi Gold, Rose Vermouth, bitters and absinthe) and Fire Punch (Bacardi Silver Rum, RumHaven coconut rum, Fireball, Falernum, pineapple and orange juices, and grenadine). House-made syrups are courtesy of the resort’s executive pastry chef, Joshua Cain.
A half-dozen Florida rums are also available, including Siesta Key Rum’s Toasted Coconut Rum, as well as rums from South Africa and Barbados. All in all, there are at least 80 rums on the Rum Bar’s menu, providing a global perspective on rums, ranging in price from $12 (Bacardi Superior White) to $130 (Black Tot Last Consignment). There are 10 Puerto Rican rums including 8 from Bacardi, 8 rums from Martinique, 7 from Barbados and 6 from Jamaica.
Rum Bar Food
Cuban-style tapas are also served, such as beef empanadas, guava BBQ meatballs and Abuela Cruzita’s flan, along with social-media friendly, rum-infused bacon scented with rosemary and orange-ginger, and hung on a mini “clothesline.”
Next up is an outdoor cigar lounge adjacent to the rum bar, providing the perfect pairing—especially for snowbirds who want to enjoy Florida’s sunshine, but not necessarily at Walt Disney World.
By offering an extensive menu of rum options and Cuban-inspired tapas for pairing, we’ve created a menu that’s just as much for our local visitors as it for out-of-town guests,” says Andaur. “There’s always something new and delicious for first-time visitors and repeat customers to discover at The Rum Bar.”